Vitro Biologist — Cardiovascular & Renal Research

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, we bring together over 50,000 employees globally to tackle complex challenges in medicine and support the communities we serve.

The Cardiovascular and Renal Research (CVR) therapeutic area is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative therapies for heart failure, cardiometabolic disease, chronic kidney disease, and related cardiovascular conditions. We integrate innovative in‑vitro science with translational biology to advance a robust pipeline of biologics, small molecules, and genetic medicines.

We are seeking a skilled, motivated in‑vitro biologist to join our multidisciplinary drug discovery team in Indianapolis. This hands‑on, bench‑focused role requires a seasoned scientist to initiate new research and advance established projects targeting cardiovascular and renal disease. Success involves ownership, agility with evolving data, and willingness to perform in‑vivo pharmacology experiments as needed.

• Design and independently implement in‑vitro and cell‑based experiments to support preclinical characterization of cardiovascular and renal targets and pathways using pharmacological agents, DNA/RNA tool molecules, and/or CRISPR technologies.
• Develop, optimize, and validate disease‑relevant cellular assay systems to assess target engagement, pathway modulation, and compound efficacy.
• Perform molecular and biochemical assessments on tissue and cell samples, including RNA/DNA isolation and analysis, and gene and protein expression (qPCR, ddPCR, western blot, ELISA, MSD).
• Implement multiple assay detection technologies (fluorescence, luminescence, FRET, Alpha Screen, radiometric) and introduce new technologies relevant to research programs.
• Apply broad cell biology capabilities, including cell culture, transfection, FACS/flow cytometry, and cell‑based functional assays (e.g., inflammation and metabolic readouts) to portfolio projects.
• Collaborate closely with cross‑functional project teams—such as in‑vivo pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and translational sciences—to advance drug discovery programs.
• Establish new techniques and disease‑biology capabilities, pivoting quickly based on emerging data in a fast‑paced, data‑driven environment.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, analyze data independently, and present results in written and oral formats.
• Perform all work in full compliance with Lilly Research Policies and complete required training within specified time frames.

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 1 year experience in cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, or a related field.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis;
  Lilly does not sponsor work authorization or visas.

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Track record of independently developing, optimizing, and validating disease‑relevant cellular and biochemical assays.
• Hands‑on proficiency with core molecular and biochemical techniques (qPCR, western blot, ELISA/MSD, RNA/DNA isolation).
• Background in cardiometabolic disease (strongly preferred).
• Experience with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and size‑exclusion chromatography (SEC) to determine lipoprotein profiles.
• Experience automating routine assays and applying AI to preclinical drug discovery.
• Familiarity with computational or bioinformatics tools.
• Prior hands‑on in‑vivo pharmacology experience.
• Proven success working on cross‑functional teams in a matrixed research environment.
• Strong scientific communication skills and experience presenting data in a team setting.
• Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

This position is located onsite, full‑time, in Indianapolis, IN. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in…